Stretching apparatus



May 20 1924.

E. V., SHALEN ET AL STRETCH-INC: APPARATUS Filed March 16 Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST V. SHALEN, KARL R. OLOFSSO'N, AND BROR L. OLOFSSON, OF DORCHES'IER,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO KAKAS BROS, I1\T(l. OF

A. CORPORATION OF IVIASSAOHUSETTS' BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

scrnEronmGnPPAnATos.

Application filed. March 16, 1922. Serial No. 544,353. i v

T 0 all who m it may concern:

Be it known that W6,'ERNEST V. SHALEN, a subject of the Kingof Sweden, and resident of Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and ter, Massachusetts), and IIARLAR, OLOFSSON,

a subject of the King of Sweden, and Bno n L, OLor-sson, a citizen of the United States, and residents of Dorchester, inthe county of Suffolk and State 1 of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Stretching Apparatus, of which the following description,

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Our present invention relates to devices for use in holding, stretching and drying pelts, skins and the furs ofjfur-bearing ani mals, particularly small fur-bearinganimals as a preliminary step in subsequent use and manufacture in the making of garments.

In prior stretching devicesof', this general type, numerous attempts have been made to provide a wire or metal frame on which the pelt or skin could be stretched, but such prior devices havebeen unsatisfactory in actual use, because of the difiiculty in handling them, time required to apply, attach, hold and stretch the pelt, injury resulting to the fur of the pelt, and similar objections, so that in actual use, it is preferable to employ, a series or set of boards, on which the pelts are applied, stretched and tacked in shape.

Our present invention is directed to obviate the difficulties of prior wire or metal stretching appliances and to be as acceptable and capable in actual use to the present practice of using the boards, while also eliminating the danger andinjury to the pelts by doing entirely away with tacks or other securing means which-will in any way deteriorate or damagethe fur.

We have combined in a spring form of metal holder and stretcher,v attaching and adjustable apparatus which enables great up to the limit of its length, and permits a.

quick, efficient and positive locking of the stretching devices. v

State of Massachusetts (whose postoffice address is 179 Minot Street,.Dorcheshaving its endmost portion'bent transversely as shown at 5, passing through the loop and sufiicient diameter to span the sides 1 and 2, to slide freely thereover.

Further features and advantages and 66 novel details of construction will behereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of our invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of our improved metallic stretcher illustrating a skin of sub: stantially the largest lengthand capacity for which the apparatus is adapted;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on theline 33 of Fig. 5; i i v Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional .view on the line f4 of Fig. 5; and i Fig. 5 is an enlarged justable cross-bar. I

In carrying out our invention any suitable length of metal and diameter of the same can be employed. Preferably We would provide a set of three or possibly four frames of varying sizes to take care of the 7 entire, range ofskins and pelts for any particular work, each one of these frames bein capable in itself to handle, hold andstretc 1 a considerable range of pelts. lNe also prefer to use a round spring wire, forming the same as illustrated in Fig. 1, withthesides 1 and 2 springing from the apex 3, and in a curved form with the shorter arm 2 formed with an eye-loop 4 land the longer arm 1 side View of the ad 41 in the short arm 2 and ending ina short upturned end 6 which acts as a stop and partly as a' handle. The inner surfaces of these sides 1 and 2 are provided with a series of notches as indicated at 10, 10. These notches may be formed in any suitable manner, but preferably are simply recesses filed or formed on the inner surfaces ofthe side. arms 1 and 2, substantially asrshown.

Applied to the sidesl and 2 is a sliding crossbar 12 having thereon means to hold and retain the tail portion of the pelt to effect the longitudinal stretching and also Y having means to lock the cross-bar 12 in '100 adjusted position, both longitudinally and cross-wise with relation to thesides 1 and 2. For this purpose the cross-bar 12 has formed therein slots 13 and 1 1 of substantial length In order to firmly and positively lock the cross-bar 12 to the sides 1 and 2, both longitudinally for stretching the skin lengthwise. and laterally for stretching the skin widthwise, we attach to the extreme ends of the crossbar 12 at .16 and 17, notched locking levers 18 and 19 respectively, each lever having a series of notches 20 of appropriate form and diameter to catch over the sides 1 and 2 and engage the notches 10, holding the sides 1 and 2 both extended to the limit of the stretching capacity of the pelt 21 being applied, while also holding the same. stretched longitudinally, as will be readily appreciated. 'These locking levers are also fitted with a small finger clip or catch 22 to facilitate releasing or raising the levers and remove the tension of the cross-bar 12 and sides 1 and 2-after the skin is stretched and it is desired to remove the same.

It is necessary to apply to the tail piece of the pelt being stretched, a fastening means which will firmly retain the same and yet will not injure the fur. Asjthese pelts when applied to the stretching frame are green and very slippery it hasheretofore been extremely difficult to secure the'tail piece with any non-slipping fasteningdevicewhich would not injure the-fur. In the use of a board where tacks were employed the fur was injured but slightly, but in our invention we have devised a novel fastening means which does not perforate the fur in any way, which will hold it securely, firmly and rigidly, and enable the entire skin to be stretched longitudinally when applied to the frame. This fastening device comprises a channel or U-shaped member 25 adapted to partially enclose the cross-bar 12 when the fastener 25 is moved downwardly into fur engaging position, thus clamping the fur firmly and in an S-shaped path around the top of the crossbar 12. This clamping member 25 has a pair of rearwardly extending lugs 26 and 27 pivoted to the cross-bar 12 at 28, and at the forward part is formed to receive a notched catch 30, as clearly-shown in Fig. a portion of the-channel or arm of one side being removed to constitute the cooperating catch engaging member This catch 30 preferably pivoted at to the cross-bar 12 as also clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and In the operation of our improved stretching frame, the operatorholds the same by the curved or bottom portions, viewing Fig. 1, fits the pelt 21 over the apex 3 and pulls the pelt into approximate position, thereupon attaching'thecross-ba to the tail 36 tion by engaging-the catch 30, so that the teeth therein will engage and hold the end portion 33 .of the fastener 25. Thereupon the operator expands the sides 1 and 2 and simultaneouslymoves the cross-bar 12 rearwardly to stretch the pelt longitudinally, and when in desiredadjusted position, the operator snaps downwardly the arms 18 and 19 which engage the'sides 1 and'2 in the adjacent notches 10, thus holding the pelt and frame in extreme stretched position to which the same has been adjusted. both widthwise and lengthwise. The peculiar configuration of the fastener 25 cooperating with the cross-bar 12 giving a firm, rigid and yet non-marring grip onthe tail of the pelt while holding the same in stretched position and yet can be instantly releasedafter the pelt is cured and it is desired to remove the same. Similarly the locking .arms 18 and 19 can be quickly lifted by engagement with the finger clips 22 and the tension from the pelt instantly released both cross-wise and longitudinally.

In using our improved framea pelt can be applied as quickly as has been possible on tapered boards, can be secured thereto much more rigidly, is useful. in supplying a constant spring tension capable of con-- traction with the drying of the pelt. and is capable also of a wide range of sizes, and furthermore the entire frame can be cleaned, steamed, sterilized or the like without injuryyif desired. For this purpose we desire to make the frame of non-corrosive spring metal of any suitable com-position, construction, strength and size.

Our invention is further described and defined in the form of claim as follows:

A skin stretching frame of the kind-de scribed, comprising movable sidearms united at an apex, a cross-bar slidable upon. said side arms, and capable of being locked thereto, in combination with means on said cross-bar to hold and securea portion of a pelt applied to the frame, the means on the cross-bar to lock the same to the sides comprising a pair of pivoted notched locking arms.

In testimony whereof, we have signed-our names to this specification.

ERNEST V. SHALEN. KARL R. OLOFSSON. BRO R LgOLOFSSON. 

